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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Western Koel
Song
Loud, far-carrying nasal call; distinctive penetrating notes audible through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
Song
Loud, mellow whistled phrase; rich resonant notes building in deliberate sequence through forest canopy.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Western Koel
Near Threatened
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Western Koel
Plumage
Shining Bronze-cuckoo: brilliant iridescent golden-green above; white barred below; bronze-green head; reddish eye; small size
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
Plumage
Red-breasted Coua: brilliant rufous-red breast; gray head; olive-brown above; bare blue facial skin; long tail; Madagascar endemic
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Western Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) — 39–46 cm. Male glossy black; female brown with white spots and barred underparts; red eye. Widespread from South Asia through mainland Southeast Asia. Brood parasite targeting crows and mynas. Frugivore and insectivore. Its rising wailing call heralds the Indian summer.
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus) — 40–45 cm. Dark blue-green above; chestnut belly; green bill; bare red orbital skin; long tail. Inhabits lowland and hill forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Non-parasitic. Insectivore specialising in hairy caterpillars.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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